Batman Begins (2005) Movie Script
Rachel, let me see.
- Can l see?
- Finders keepers. And l found it.
ln my garden.
Finders keepers.
Bruce?
Bruce?
Mom! Mr. Alfred!
Did you have dream?
Nightmare.
Worse than this place?
They are going to fight you.
- Again?
- Until they kill you.
Can they kill me before breakfast?
You are in hell, little man.
And l am the devil.
You're not the devil.
You're practice.
Solitary.
- Why?
- For protection.
- l don't need protection.
- Protection for them.
Get in.
Are you so
desperate to fight criminals...
...that you lock yourself in
to take them on one at a time?
Actually, there were seven of them.
l counted six, Mr. Wayne.
How do you know my name?
The world is too small for someone
like Bruce Wayne to disappear...
...no matter how deep
he chooses to sink.
Who are you?
My name is merely Ducard,
but l speak for Ra's al Ghul...
...a man greatly feared
by the criminal underworld.
A man who can offer you a path.
What makes you think l need a path?
Someone like you
is only here by choice.
You have been exploring
the criminal fraternity...
...but whatever
your original intentions...
...you have become truly lost.
And what path can Ra's al Ghul offer?
The path of a man
who shares his hatred of evil...
...and wishes to serve true justice.
The path of the League of Shadows.
- You're vigilantes.
- No, no, no.
A vigilante is just a man lost in
the scramble for his own gratification.
He can be destroyed or locked up.
But if you make yourself more
than just a man...
...if you devote yourself to an ideal...
...and if they can't stop you...
...then you become
something else entirely.
Which is?
Legend, Mr. Wayne.
Tomorrow, you will be released.
lf you are bored of brawling with thieves
and want to achieve something...
...there is a rare blue flower
that grows on the eastern slopes.
Pick one of these flowers.
lf you can carry it
to the top of the mountain...
...you may find what you were
looking for in the first place.
And what was l looking for?
Only you can know that.
You turn back. You go back.
Ra's al Ghul?
Wait.
What are you seeking?
l seek...
...the means to fight injustice.
To turn fear...
...against those
who prey on the fearful.
To manipulate the fears in others...
...you must first master your own.
Are you ready to begin?
l can... l can barely stand.
Death does not wait
for you to be ready!
Death is not considerate or fair!
And make no mistake,
here you face death.
Tiger.
Jujitsu.
Panther.
You're skilled. But this is not a dance.
And you are afraid.
But not of me.
Tell us, Mr. Wayne...
...what do you fear?
Bruce?
lt's okay. lt's okay.
You'll be okay.
Will we be needing
an ambulance, Master Wayne?
No, l'll set the bone
and take him for an x-ray later.
Very good, sir.
l'm very sorry, sir. l've told...
Don't worry. lt's fine.
Took quite a fall,
didn't we, Master Bruce?
And why do we fall?
So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Just a little fall.
lt's just a small fracture.
The bats again?
You know why they attacked you,
don't you?
- They were afraid of you.
- Afraid of me?
All creatures feel fear.
Even the scary ones?
Especially the scary ones.
l got something to show you.
- You think your mother will like them?
- Yeah.
l think it's time to get up.
- Maybe.
No going back to bed.
Did you build this train, Dad?
Gotham's been good to our family,
but the city's been suffering.
People less fortunate than us
have been enduring very hard times.
So we built a new, cheap, public
transportation system to unite the city.
And at the center...
...Wayne Tower.
Is that where you work?
- No, l work at the hospital.
l leave the running of our company
to much better men.
- Better?
- Well...
...more interested men.
Can we go?
Please.
Okay. Let's go.
- What's wrong, Bruce?
- No, no. lt was me.
l just needed some fresh air.
A little bit of opera goes a long way.
Right, Bruce?
Come on. Let's go.
Wallets, jewelry. Come on, fast.
That's fine.
Fast.
Take it easy.
Take it easy.
Here you go.
lt's fine. lt's fine.
Now just take it and go.
- l said, jewelry.
Hey...
Thomas!
Bruce.
lt's okay.
Don't be afraid.
ls this your father's?
lt's okay.
Come here.
There you go.
lt's okay.
lt's okay.
Gordon.
Hey.
Good news.
We got him, son.
You're in excellent hands.
We'll be watching the empire.
When you grow up,
it'll be waiting for you.
l thought l might prepare a little supper.
- Very well.
- Alfred?
- Yes, Master Bruce?
- lt was my fault, Alfred.
- l made them leave the theater.
- No.
- lf l hadn't gotten scared...
- lt was nothing that you did.
lt was him, and him alone.
Do you understand?
l miss them, Alfred.
l miss them so much.
So do l, Master Bruce.
So do l.
And do you still feel
responsible for your parents' death?
My anger outweighs my guilt.
Come.
You have learned to bury
your guilt with anger.
l will teach you to confront it
and to face the truth.
You know how to fight six men.
We can teach you how to engage 600.
You know how to disappear.
We can teach you
to become truly invisible.
lnvisible?
The ninja understands that invisibility
is a matter of patience and agility.
Always mind your surroundings.
Ninjitsu employs explosive powders.
- As weapons?
- Or distractions.
Theatricality and deception
are powerful agents.
You must become more than just a man
in the mind of your opponent.
Who is he?
- He was a farmer.
Then he tried to take his neighbor's land
and became a murderer.
- Now he is a prisoner.
- What'll happen to him?
Justice. Crime cannot be tolerated.
Criminals thrive on the indulgence
of society's understanding.
Your parents' death was not your fault.
lt was your father's.
Anger does not change the fact
that your father failed to act.
- The man had a gun.
- Would that stop you?
l've had training.
The training is nothing!
Will is everything!
The will to act.
Yield.
You haven't beaten me.
You have sacrificed sure footing
for a killing stroke.
Rub your chest.
Your arms will take care of themselves.
You are stronger than your father.
You didn't know my father.
But l know the rage that drives you.
That impossible anger
strangling the grief...
...until the memory
of your loved one is just...
...poison in your veins.
And one day, you catch yourself wishing
the person you loved had never existed...
...so you'd be spared your pain.
l wasn't always here in the mountains.
Once, l had a wife.
My great love.
She was taken from me.
Like you, l was forced to learn
there are those without decency...
...who must be fought
without hesitation, without pity.
Your anger gives you great power.
But if you let it, it will destroy you...
...as it almost did me.
- What stopped it?
- Vengeance.
That's no help to me.
Why, Bruce?
Why could you not
avenge your parents?
Will you be heading back to Princeton
after the hearing, sir...
...or can l persuade you to stay on
for a day or two?
l'm not heading back at all.
You don't like it there?
- l like it fine.
They just don't feel the same way.
- l've prepared the master bedroom.
- No.
My room will be fine.
With all due respect, sir,
Wayne Manor is your house.
No, Alfred, it's my father's house.
- Your father is dead.
- This place is a mausoleum.
lf l have my way, l'll pull
the damn thing down brick by brick.
This house, Master Wayne, has sheltered
six generations of your family.
Why do you give a damn, Alfred?
lt's not your family.
l give a damn because a good man
once made me responsible...
...for what was most precious to him...
...in the whole world.
Miss Dawes has offered
to drive you to the hearing.
She probably hopes
to talk you out of going.
Should l just bury the past
out there with my parents, Alfred?
l wouldn't presume to tell you
what to do with your past, sir.
Just know that there are those of us who
care about what you do with your future.
Haven't given up on me yet?
Never.
Alfred still keeps the condensed milk
on the top shelf.
Hasn't he noticed
you're tall enough to reach now?
Old habits die hard, l guess.
- Never used to stop us anyway.
- No, it didn't.
How's your mom?
She misses this place.
So do l.
Yeah.
But it's nothing without the people
who made it what it was.
- Now there's only Alfred.
- And you.
- l'm not staying, Rachel.
- You're just back for the hearing.
Bruce, l don't suppose there's any way
to convince you not to come.
Someone at this proceeding...
...should stand for my parents.
We all loved your parents, Bruce.
- What Chill did is unforgivable.
- Then why is your boss letting him go?
ln prison, he shared a cell
with Carmine Falcone.
He learned things, and he will testify
in exchange for early parole.
Rachel, this man killed my parents.
l cannot let that pass.
And l need you
to understand that, please.
Okay.
The depression hit working
people, like Mr. Chill, hardest of all.
His crime was appalling, yes,
but it was motivated not by greed...
...but by desperation.
Given the 14 years served, as well as
his extraordinary level of cooperation...
...with one of this office's
most important investigations...
...we strongly endorse his petition
for early release.
Mr. Chill?
Your Honor...
...not a day goes by that l don't wish
l could take back what l did.
Sure, l was desperate,
like a lot of people back then...
...but that don't change what l did.
l gather there is a member
of the Wayne family here today.
Has he got anything to say?
Joe! Hey, Joe!
Falcone says hi.
Come on, Bruce.
We don't need to see this.
l do.
The DA couldn't understand
why Judge Faden insisted...
...on making the hearing public.
Falcone paid him off
to get Chill out in the open.
Maybe l should thank them.
- You don't mean that.
- What if l do, Rachel?
My parents deserved justice.
You're not talking about justice.
You're talking about revenge.
- Sometimes, they're the same.
- No, they're never the same.
Justice is about harmony. Revenge is
about you making yourself feel better.
- lt's why we have an impartial system.
- Your system is broken.
You care about justice?
Look beyond your own pain, Bruce.
This city is rotting.
They talk about the depression
as if it's history. lt's not.
Things are worse than ever here.
Falcone floods our streets
with crime and drugs...
...preying on the desperate,
creating new Joe Chills every day.
Falcone may not have killed
your parents, Bruce...
...but he's destroying everything
that they stood for.
You wanna thank him for that?
Here you go.
We all know where to find him.
As long as he keeps the bad people rich...
...and the good people scared,
no one'll touch him.
Good people like your parents, who'll
stand against injustice, they're gone.
What chance does Gotham have
when the good people do nothing?
- l'm not one of your good people, Rachel.
- What do you mean?
All these years, l wanted to kill him.
Now l can't.
Your father would be ashamed of you.
You're taller than you look
in the tabloids, Mr. Wayne.
No gun? l'm insulted.
- You could've just sent a thank-you note.
- l didn't come here to thank you.
l came to show you that
not everyone in Gotham's afraid of you.
Only those who know me, kid.
Look around you.
You'll see two councilmen...
...a union official,
couple off-duty cops...
...and a judge.
l wouldn't have a second's hesitation of
blowing your head off in front of them.
Now, that's power you can't buy.
That's the power of fear.
l'm not afraid of you.
Because you think you got
nothing to lose.
But you haven't thought it through.
You haven't thought about
your lady friend in the DA's office.
You haven't thought about
your old butler. Bang!
People from your world...
...have so much to lose.
Now, you think because your mommy
and your daddy got shot...
...you know about the ugly side of life,
but you don't.
You've never tasted desperate.
You're... You're Bruce Wayne,
the prince of Gotham.
You'd have to go 1000 miles to meet
someone who didn't know your name.
So don't come here with your anger,
trying to prove something to yourself.
This is a world you'll never understand.
And you always fear...
...what you don't understand.
All right.
Yeah, you got spirit, kid.
l'll give you that.
More than your old man anyway.
ln the joint, Chill told me about
the night he killed your parents.
He said your father begged for mercy.
Begged.
Like a dog.
Should've tipped better.
- For what?
- Your jacket.
Okay.
Hey, hey, hey. Let me have it.
lt's a nice coat.
Be careful who sees you with that.
- They're gonna come looking for me.
- Who?
Everyone.
lt's...
lt's a nice coat.
When you lived among
the criminals, did you start to pity them?
The first time I stole
so that I wouldn 't starve, yes.
I lost many assumptions about
the simple nature of right and wrong.
And when I traveled...
... I learned the fear before a crime...
... and the thrill of success.
But I never became one of them.
Fool. What do l care
what your name is? You're a criminal.
Tell that to the guy who owned these.
You've traveled the world
to understand the criminal mind...
...and conquer your fears.
But a criminal is not complicated.
And what you really fear
is inside yourself.
You fear your own power.
You fear your anger...
...the drive to do great
or terrible things.
Now you must journey inwards.
You are ready.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe in your fears.
Face them.
To conquer fear,
you must become fear.
You must bask in the fear
of other men.
And men fear most
what they cannot see.
You have to become a terrible thought.
A wraith.
You have to become an idea!
Feel terror cloud your senses.
Feel its power to distort.
To control.
And know that this power
can be yours.
Embrace your worst fear.
Become one with the darkness.
Focus.
Concentrate.
Master your senses.
You cannot leave any sign.
l haven't.
lmpressive.
We have purged your fear.
You are ready to lead these men.
You are ready to become a member
of the League of Shadows.
But first, you must demonstrate
your commitment to justice.
l'm no executioner.
Your compassion is
a weakness your enemies will not share.
That's why it's so important.
lt separates us from them.
You want to fight criminals.
This man is a murderer.
- This man should be tried.
By whom?
Corrupt bureaucrats?
Criminals mock society's laws.
You know this better than most.
You cannot lead these men...
...unless you are prepared to do
what is necessary to defeat evil.
And where would l be leading
these men?
Gotham.
As Gotham's favored son...
...you will be ideally placed
to strike at the heart of criminality.
- How?
- Gotham's time has come.
Like Constantinople or Rome before it...
...the city has become a breeding ground
for suffering and injustice.
lt is beyond saving
and must be allowed to die.
This is the most important function
of the League of Shadows.
lt is one we've performed for centuries.
Gotham...
...must be destroyed.
You can't believe in this.
Ra's al Ghul rescued us from
the darkest corners of our own hearts.
What he asks in return is the courage
to do what is necessary.
l will go back to Gotham
and l will fight men like this...
...but l will not become an executioner.
Bruce, please.
For your own sake,
there is no turning back.
- What are you doing?
- What's necessary, my friend.
l will tell him you saved his life.
Master Wayne,
you've been gone a long time.
- Yes, l have.
- You look very fashionable.
Apart from the mud.
Are you coming back to Gotham
for long, sir?
As long as it takes.
l want to show the people...
...their city doesn't belong
to the criminals and the corrupt.
ln the depression, your father nearly
bankrupted Wayne Enterprises...
...combating poverty.
He believed his example could inspire
the wealthy of Gotham to save their city.
Did it?
ln a way.
Their murder shocked the wealthy
and the powerful into action.
People need dramatic examples
to shake them out of apathy.
l can't do that as Bruce Wayne.
As a man...
...l'm flesh and blood,
l can be ignored, destroyed.
But as a symbol...
As a symbol, l can be incorruptible.
- l can be everlasting.
- What symbol?
Something elemental...
...something terrifying.
l assume that as you take on
the underworld...
...this symbol is a persona to protect
those you care about from reprisals?
You're thinking about Rachel?
Actually, sir, l was thinking of myself.
Have you told anyone l'm coming back?
l couldn't figure the legal ramifications
of bringing you back from the dead.
- Dead?
- You've been gone seven years.
You had me declared dead?
Actually, it was Mr. Earle.
He's taking the company public.
He wanted to liquidate
your majority shareholding.
Those shares are worth
quite a bit of money.
Well, it's a good thing
l left everything to you, then.
Quite so, sir.
And you can borrow the Rolls, if you like.
Just bring it back with a full tank.
ln my opinion, Mr. Zsaz is as much
a danger to himself as to others...
...and prison is probably not the best
environment for his rehabilitation.
- Dr. Crane.
- Miss Dawes.
You think a man who butchers people
for the mob doesn't belong in jail?
l would hardly have testified to that
otherwise, would l?
This is the third of Falcone's thugs
you've had declared insane...
...and moved into your asylum.
The work offered by organized crime
must have an attraction to the insane.
Or the corrupt.
Mr. Finch.
I think you should check
with Miss Dawes here...
...just what implications your office
has authorized her to make. lf any.
- What are you doing?
- What are you doing, Carl?
Looking out for you.
Falcone has half the city
bought and paid for.
- Drop it.
- How can you say that?
Because as much as l care about
getting Falcone, l care more about you.
That's sweet.
We've been through all that.
Blessed bat again, sir.
They nest somewhere in the grounds.
No more favors.
Someone is sniffing around.
Hey, l scratch your back,
you scratch mine, doc.
l'm bringing in the shipments.
We are paying you for that.
Maybe money isn't as interesting
to me as favors.
l am more than aware that you are
not intimidated by me, Mr. Falcone.
But you know who l'm working for,
and when he gets here...
He... He's coming to Gotham?
Yes, he is.
And when he gets here,
he's not going to wanna hear...
...that you've endangered our operation
just to get your thugs out of jail time.
- Who's bothering you?
- There's a girl at the DA's office.
- We'll buy her off.
- Not this one.
ldealist, huh?
Well, there's an answer to that too.
- l don't want to know.
- Yes, you do.
No, we are showing
very healthy growth in these sectors.
l don't think Thomas Wayne would have
viewed heavy-arms manufacture...
...as a suitable cornerstone
for our business.
Well, that's 20 years ago, Fredericks.
l think after 20 years
we can allow ourselves...
...to stop thinking about what
Thomas Wayne would have done.
Good morning, Mr. Earle's office.
Yes, he's confirmed for
the dinner tomorrow evening.
Good morning.
l'm here to see Mr. Earle.
Name?
Bruce Wayne.
Thomas would probably not
have taken the company public.
But that is what we,
as responsible managers, are going to do.
Jessica?
Jessica? Where are you?
Eye on the ball, and...
- Why is no one answering the phone?
lt's Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Earle.
l'm sure they'll call back.
Bruce? You're supposed to be dead.
l'm sorry to disappoint.
- l need you to take a look at this.
- Have you seen him yet?
- Who?
- Wayne.
lt's been all over the news.
He's back.
l'm sure you realize
l can't stop the big machine.
Too many wheels turning.
- We're going public.
- l understand.
And l'll be handsomely rewarded
for my shares.
l'm not looking to interfere.
- l am looking for a job.
- Oh?
l just want to get to know the company
that my family built.
Any ideas where you would start?
Applied Sciences caught my eye.
Fox's department.
l'll let him know you're coming.
You look like him. Your dad.
You're the only one left
of the Wayne family.
This is where you belong.
Welcome home.
Environmental procedures,
defense projects, consumer products.
All prototypes. None in production.
- On any level whatsoever.
- None?
What did they tell you this place was?
They didn't tell me anything.
Earle told me exactly what it was
when he sent me down here.
Dead end.
Place to keep me from causing
the board any more trouble.
Come on.
- You were on the board?
- When your father ran things.
- You knew my father?
- Oh, yeah.
Helped him build his train.
Here we are.
Kevlar utility harness.
Gas-powered, magnetic grapple gun.
The 350-pound test monofilament.
Wonderful project, your dad's train.
Routed it right into Wayne Tower,
along with the water and power utilities.
Kind of made Wayne Tower
the unofficial center of Gotham City.
Of course, Earle let it go to rot.
Here we are.
Nomex survival suit
for advanced infantry.
Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints.
- Tear-resistant?
- This sucker will stop a knife.
- Bulletproof?
- Anything but a straight shot.
- Why didn't they put it into production?
- Bean counters didn't think...
...a soldier's life was worth 300 grand.
So, what's your interest in it,
Mr. Wayne?
l want to borrow it.
For spelunking.
Spelunking?
Yeah, you know, cave diving?
You expecting to run into
much gunfire in these caves?
Look, l'd rather Mr. Earle
didn't know about me borrowing...
Mr. Wayne...
...the way l see it...
...all this stuff is yours anyway.
Okay. Give it a try.
Charming.
At least you'll have company.
This must be the lowest foundation
of the southeast wing.
In the civil war your great grandfather was
involved in the Underground Railroad
...secretly transporting freed slaves
to the North...
...and l suspect these caverns
came in handy.
Alfred! Come up here!
l can see everything all right
from down here, sir, thank you.
We order the main part
of this cowl from Singapore.
Via a dummy corporation.
lndeed. And then, quite separately...
...we place an order
to a Chinese company for these.
- Put it together ourselves.
- Precisely.
They'll have to be large orders,
to avoid suspicion.
- How large?
- Say 10,000.
- Well, at least we'll have spares.
- Yes.
Don't suppose you want a taste.
l just keep offering,
thinking maybe someday you'll get wise.
There's nothing wise
in what you do, Flass.
Well, Jimbo, you don't take the taste,
makes us guys nervous.
l'm no rat.
ln a town this bent,
who's there to rat to anyway?
Don't turn around.
You're a good cop.
One of the few.
What do you want?
Carmine Falcone brings
in shipments of drugs every week.
Nobody takes him down. Why?
He's paid up with the right people.
What will it take to bring him down?
Leverage on Judge Faden...
...and a DA brave enough
to prosecute.
Rachel Dawes.
Who are you?
Watch for my sign.
You're just one man?
Now we're two.
We?
Freeze!
What the hell was that?
Just some nut.
Well, what is it today?
More spelunking?
No. Today it's BASE-jumping.
BASE-jumping.
- That like parachuting?
- Kind of.
Do you have any lightweight fabrics?
You know, l think l have just the thing.
lt's called memory cloth.
Notice anything?
Regularly flexible...
...but put a current through it...
...molecules realign, it becomes rigid.
- What kind of shapes can you make?
Can be tailored to fit any structure
based on a rigid skeleton.
Too expensive for the Army?
l don't think they tried to market it
to the billionaire, BASE-jumping crowd.
- Look, Mr. Fox.
- Yes, sir?
lf you're uncomfortable...
Mr. Wayne, if you don't want to tell me
exactly what you're doing...
...when l'm asked, l don't have to lie.
But don't think of me as an idiot.
Fair enough.
What's that?
The Tumbler?
Oh, you wouldn't be interested in that.
She was built as a bridging vehicle.
During combat, two of these
would jump over a river, towing cables.
Over here on the throttle,
flip that open and throttle up.
This will boost you into a rampless jump...
Not now!
Not... Not now, sir.
We never could get
the damn bridge to work...
...but this baby works just fine.
So, what do you think?
Does it come in black?
l need you at the docks Thursday.
- Problems?
- l don't want any trouble...
...with the last shipment.
- Sure.
Word on the street is you got a beef
with somebody in the DA's office.
- ls that right?
- And that there's a fat prize...
...waiting for anybody willing
to do anything about it.
So, what's your point, Mr. Flass?
Have you seen the girl?
It's a cute little assistant D A.
Don 't you think that's a little too much
heat to bring down, maybe?
- Even for this town.
- Never underestimate Gotham City.
People get mugged coming home
from work every day of the week.
Sometimes...
Sometimes things just go bad.
lt's a problem with the graphite, sir.
The next 10,000
will be up to specifications.
- At least they gave us a discount.
- Quite.
ln the meantime, sir, may l suggest
you try to avoid landing on your head?
Why bats, Master Wayne?
Bats frighten me.
lt's time my enemies shared my dread.
What is this?
Continue.
Looks fine out there.
The bears go straight to the dealers.
Yeah, and the rabbits go
to the man in the Narrows.
- What's the difference?
- lgnorance is bliss, my friend.
Don't burden yourself
with the secrets of scary people.
Hey. Steiss.
Steiss?
What?
What the...?
l better check it.
There's a problem out here.
You better bail.
Where are you?!
Here.
Take a ride. Oh, shit.
What the hell are you?
l'm Batman.
Nice coat.
Thanks.
Hold it.
That's right, you better run.
Falcone sent them to kill you.
- Why?
- You rattled his cage.
- What's this?
- Leverage.
- For what?
- To get things moving.
Who are you?
Someone like you.
Someone who'll rattle the cages.
Ma'am? Everything okay?
Falcone's men?
- Does it matter?
We'll never tie him to it anyway.
l wouldn't be too sure of that.
What the hell is that?
Cut him down.
Unacceptable.
Now, l don't care if it's rival gangs,
Guardian Angels...
...or the goddamn Salvation Army...
...get them off the street
and off the front page.
They say it was just one guy.
Or a creature.
lt was some asshole in a costume.
- Yeah?
- This guy did deliver us...
...one of the city's biggest crime lords.
No one takes the law
into their own hands in my city.
Understand?
No way to bury it now.
There's still Judge Faden.
- l've got Faden covered.
- What about this bat they babble about?
Even if these guys will swear
to being thrashed by a giant bat...
...we've got Falcone at the scene.
Drugs, prints, cargo manifests.
This bat character gave us everything.
Okay. Let's do it.
- Bats are nocturnal.
Bats may be.
But even for billionaire playboys,
The price for leading a double life,
l fear.
Your theatrics made an impression.
Theatricality and deception...
...are powerful weapons, Alfred.
This is a good start.
lf those are to be the first
of many injuries to come...
...it would be wise
to find a suitable excuse.
Polo, for instance.
l'm not learning polo, Alfred.
Strange injuries,
a nonexistent social life.
These things beg the question...
...as to what exactly does Bruce Wayne
do with his time and his money.
What does someone like me do?
Drive sports cars, date movie stars.
Buy things that are not for sale.
Who knows, Master Wayne,
you start pretending to have fun...
...you might even have a little
by accident.
Sir.
- We have a situation.
- All right.
The Coast Guard picked up
one of our cargo ships last night...
...heavily damaged, all crew missing,
probably dead.
The ship was carrying
a prototype weapon.
It's a microwave emitter.
lt's designed for desert warfare, but it...
lt looks like somebody...
...turned it on.
lt uses focused microwaves to
vaporize the enemy's water supply.
The damage to the ship
was catastrophic.
The weapon itself is...
Missing?
Yeah.
Mr. Wayne.
Nice car.
You should see my other one.
He's done something
the police have never have.
You can't take the law
into your own hands.
Well, at least he's getting
something done.
Bruce, help me out here.
- Huh?
Well, a guy who dresses up
like a bat clearly has issues.
But he's put Falcone behind bars.
Now the cops wanna bring him in.
What does that tell you?
They're jealous.
Sir, the pool is for decoration...
...and your friends
do not have swimwear.
Well, they're European.
l'm going to have to ask you to leave.
- lt is not a question of money.
- Well, you see...
...l'm buying this hotel...
...and setting some new rules
about the pool area.
l think the Batman deserves a medal.
And a straitjacket to pin it on.
Thank you.
Bruce?
Rachel?
l'd heard you were back.
What are you doing?
Just swimming here.
Wow, it is good to see you.
You were gone a long time.
- l know. How are things?
- The same.
Job's getting worse.
Can't change the world on your own.
What choice do l have...
...when you're too busy swimming?
Rachel, all of...
All this...
lt's... lt's not me. lt's...
lnside, l am...
l am more.
Come on, Bruce. Come on.
Bruce, we have
some more hotels for you to buy.
Bruce...
...deep down you may still be
that same great kid you used to be.
But it's not who you are underneath...
...it's what you do that defines you.
Dr. Crane, thanks for coming.
Not at all. He cut his wrists?
Probably looking for the insanity plea.
But if anything should happen...
Of course, better safe than sorry.
Yeah, Dr. Crane, l can't take it anymore.
lt's all too much.
The walls are closing in.
Blah, blah, blah.
A couple of days of this food,
it'll be true.
- What do you want?
- l wanna know...
...how you're gonna convince me
to keep my mouth shut.
About what?
You don't know anything.
l know you don't want the cops to take
a closer look at the drugs they seized.
And l know about your experiments
with the inmates of your nut house.
See, l don't go into business with a guy
without finding out his dirty secrets.
And those goons you used.
l own the muscle in this town.
Now, l've been bringing
your stuff in for months. . .
. . .so whatever he's planning,
it's big, and l want in.
Well, l already know what he'll say.
That we should kill you.
Even he can't get me in here.
Not in my town.
Would you like to see my mask?
l use it in my experiments.
Now, l'm probably not very frightening
to a guy like you.
But these crazies, they can't stand it.
So when did the nut
take over the nut house?
They scream and they cry. . .
. . .much as you're doing now.
Well, he's not faking. Not that one.
l'll talk to the judge
and see if l can get him moved. . .
. . .to the secure wing at Arkham.
l can't treat him here.
Storm's coming.
The scum is getting jumpy
because you stood up to Falcone.
lt's a start. Your partner
was at the docks with Falcone.
Well, he moonlights
as a low-level enforcer.
They were splitting the shipment in two.
Only half went to the dealers.
Why? What about the other half?
-Flass knows.
-He won't talk.
He'll talk to me.
Commissioner Loeb set up
a massive task force to catch you.
-He thinks you're dangerous.
-What do you think?
l think you're trying to help.
But l've been wrong before.
Come on, l ain't got all night.
Flass, l have kids to feed.
What, they don't like falafel?
Where were the other drugs going?
l never knew. l don't know.
-l swear to God.
-Swear to me!
l don't-- l don't know.
l never knew. Never.
They went to some guy for a couple days
before they went to the dealers.
Why?
There was something--
Something else in the drugs. . .
-. . .something hidden.
-What?
l never went to the drop-off point.
lt was in the Narrows.
-Cops only go there in force.
-Do l look like a cop?
No--!
This is the one l'm talking about.
-What's your problem with it?
-lt shouldn't exist.
This ship left Singapore with
l'm guessing there's something
l'm not supposed to find in there.
Listen, counselor, we don't wanna
know what's in Mr. Falcone's crate.
Things are working a little
differently now. Open it up.
What the hell is this?
lt's you, isn't it?
Everybody's been talking about you.
Get in here!
The other kids won't believe me.
Get rid of all traces.
Better torch the whole place.
All right.
Having trouble?
Take a seat. Have a drink.
You look like a man
who takes himself too seriously.
Do you want my opinion?
You need to lighten up.
Alfred, help me.
Blood. Take. Take poison. Blood poison.
Poisonous. Poisonous.
Bruce...
... why do we fall?
-How long was l out?
-Two days.
lt's your birthday.
Many happy returns.
l've felt these effects before,
but this was so much more potent.
lt was some kind of hallucinogen,
weaponized, in aerosol form.
You have been hanging out
in the wrong clubs, Mr. Wayne.
l called Mr. Fox when your condition
worsened after the first day.
l analyzed your blood. . .
. . .isolating the receptor compounds
and the protein-based catalyst.
Am l meant to understand any of that?
Not at all. l just wanted you to know
how hard it was.
-Bottom line, l synthesized an antidote.
-Could you make more?
You planning on gassing yourself
again, Mr. Wayne?
Well, you know how it is.
You're out at night, looking for kicks. . .
. . .someone's passing around
the weaponized hallucinogens. . . .
l'll bring what l have.
The antidote should inoculate you for now.
Alfred, always a pleasure.
Lucius.
-You sure you don't want to come in?
-l have to get back.
-l just wanted to leave this.
-Thank you.
Rachel?
Looks like someone's been
burning the candle at both ends.
-Must've been quite an occasion.
-lt is my birthday.
l know. l'm sorry l can't come tonight.
l was just dropping off your present.
-You've got better plans?
-My boss has been missing for 2 days. . .
. . .which means l should
probably start by looking. . .
-. . .at the bottom of the river.
-Rachel.
Excuse me.
Rachel Dawes.
Who authorized that? Get Crane down
there now. Don't take no for an answer.
Call Dr. Lehmann, tell him we need our
own assessment to the judge by morning.
-What's wrong?
-lt's Falcone.
Dr. Crane moved him to Arkham Asylum
on suicide watch.
You're going to Arkham now?
lt's in the Narrows, Rachel.
You enjoy your party, Bruce.
-Some of us have work to do.
-You be careful.
Happy birthday.
But, Master Wayne,
the guests will be arriving.
Keep them happy until l arrive.
Tell them that joke you know.
Having fun?
Bill? Now, what's a big shot like you
doing in a place like this?
l need some information.
The Wayne Enterprise 47-B, 1 -ME.
lt's a microwave emitter. lt was designed
to vaporize an enemy's water supply.
Rumor was they tested dispersing
water-based chemicals into the air. . .
. . .but isn't that illegal?
l want all the information
on the development of this project. . .
. . .all data, files, backup disks,
on my desk right away.
Did you lose one?
l'm merging your department
with Archives.
And l am firing you.
Didn't you get the memo?
Scarecrow.
Scarecrow.
Miss Dawes, this is most irregular.
l have nothing to add
to the report l filed with the judge.
-l have questions about your report.
-Such as?
lsn't it convenient for a 52-year-old man
who has no history of mental illness. . .
. . .to have a psychotic breakdown
just when he's about to be indicted?
As you can see for yourself, there is
nothing convenient about his symptoms.
-Scarecrow.
-What's ""scarecrow""?
Patients suffering delusional episodes
often focus their paranoia. . .
. . .on an external tormentor. . .
. . .usually one conforming
to Jungian archetypes.
ln this case, a scarecrow.
-He's drugged?
-Psychopharmacology is my primary field.
I'm a strong advocate.
Outside, he was a giant.
ln here, only the mind
can grant you power.
You enjoy the reversal.
l respect the mind's power
over the body.
lt's why l do what l do.
l do what l do to keep thugs like Falcone
behind bars, not in therapy.
l want my own psychiatric consultant
to have full access to Falcone. . .
. . .including blood work.
Find out what exactly you put him on.
-First thing tomorrow, then.
-Tonight.
l've already paged Dr. Lehmann
at County General.
As you wish.
This way, please.
There's something
l think you should see.
This is where we make the medicine.
Perhaps you should have some,
clear your head.
Who knows you're here?
Who knows?
He's here.
Who?
The Batman.
What do we do?
-What anyone does. . .
. . .when a prowler comes around.
-Call the police.
-You want the cops here?
At this point, they can't stop us.
But the Batman
has a talent for disruption.
Force him outside,
the police will take him down. Go.
What about her?
She hasn't got long.
l gave her a concentrated dose.
The mind can only take so much.
Now go.
The things they say about him.
Can he really fly?
l heard he can disappear.
Well, we'll find out.
Won't we?
Taste of your own medicine, doctor?
What have you been doing here?
Who are you working for?
Ra's-- Ra's al Ghul.
Ra's al Ghul is dead.
Who are you working for?
Crane.
Dr. Crane isn't here right now.
But if you'd like to make
an appointment. . . .
Batman,
put down your weapons and surrender.
You're surrounded.
-What are you waiting for?
-Backup.
-Backup?
-The Batman's in there.
SWAT's on the way.
But if you wanna go in now. . .
. . .l'll be right behind you, sir.
SWAT's on the way.
-Hey.
-Hey.
What's happened to her?
Crane poisoned her with a psychotropic
hallucinogen, a panic-inducing toxin.
-Let me get her down to the medics.
-They can't help her, but l can.
Get her downstairs.
Meet me in the alley.
Crane's been smuggling his toxin
hidden in Falcone's drugs. . .
. . .and they're dumping it
into the water supply.
-What was he planning?
-l don't know.
Was he working for Falcone?
He mentioned someone else,
someone worse.
I need to get her the antidote
before the damage becomes permanent.
-How long does she have?
-Not long.
What is that?
-Backup.
-What the--?
Excuse me.
How is she?
-She's fading. We gotta go.
l'll get my car.
l brought mine.
Yours?
l've gotta get me one of those.
He is in a vehicle.
Make and color?
lt's a black. . .
. . .tank.
Stay calm.
You've been poisoned.
l'm on him.
Breathe slowly.
Hold on.
-What are you doing?
-Shortcut.
Air One to ground, block that ramp.
He's got no way off that roof.
Turn off your engine.
Step away from the car.
-Trust me.
Weapons system activated.
Who is this guy?
Where's he going?
He's on the roof.
What street is he taking?
-He's not on a street.
He's flying on rooftops.
At least tell me what it looks like.
Never mind.
Got him.
Coming right up on his butt.
We're tracking suspect
vehicle heading west on I- 1 7.
-Air One to ground.
-l lost him.
We've lost visual. Exit 9 is blocked.
We'll loop back to check
the frontage road.
Stealth mode activated.
Stay with me.
What--? There he is.
Just hold on.
Rachel!
They get any of this into the mains?
Yeah.
Notify the water company.
There's gotta be a way to isolate it.
No. They put it all in.
They must've been at this for weeks.
-Gotham's entire water supply is laced.
-Why haven't we felt the effects?
Must be a compound that
has to be absorbed through the lungs.
How do you feel?
Where are we?
-Why did you bring me here?
-lf l hadn't, your mind would now be lost.
-You were poisoned.
-lt was--
-lt was Dr. Crane.
-Rest. Gordon has Crane.
ls Sergeant Gordon your friend?
l don't have the luxury of friends.
l'm gonna give you a sedative.
You'll wake up back at home.
When you do, get these to Gordon,
and Gordon alone. Trust no one.
-What are they?
-The antidote.
One for Gordon to inoculate himself,
the other for mass production.
Mass production?
Crane was just a pawn.
We need to be ready.
When you told me your grand plan
for saving Gotham. . .
the only thing that stopped me
from calling the men in white coats. . .
. . .was when you said
it wasn't about thrill-seeking.
-lt's not.
-What would you call that?
-Damn good television.
-lt's a miracle no one was killed.
l didn't have time to observe
the rules of the road, Alfred.
You're getting lost inside
this monster of yours.
l'm using this monster to help
other people, just like my father did.
For Thomas Wayne, helping others. . .
. . .wasn't about proving anything
to anyone, including himself.
lt's Rachel, Alfred. She was dying.
She's downstairs, sedated.
l need you to take her home.
Well, we both care for Rachel, but what
you're doing has to be beyond that.
lt can't be personal,
or you're just a vigilante.
-ls Fox still here?
-Yes, sir.
We need to send these people away.
Those are Bruce Wayne's guests.
You have a name to maintain.
l don't care about my name.
lt's not just your name, sir.
lt's your father's name.
And it's all that's left of him.
Don't destroy it.
-Mr. Earle.
-Happy birthday, Bruce.
Thank you.
How did the stock offering go?
Prices soared.
Who was buying?
All kinds of funds and brokerages.
lt's a bit technical.
The key thing is. . .
. . .our company's future is secure.
Great.
A little the worse for wear, l'm afraid.
What was the plan, Crane?
How were you gonna get
your toxin into the air?
Scarecrow. Scarecrow.
Who were you working for, Crane?
Oh, it's too late.
You can't stop it now.
Here.
Happy birthday, Bruce.
-Thank you. Thanks.
And thank you for that item.
You're welcome.
-l know you'll put it to good use.
-l already have.
How long would it take
to manufacture on a large scale?
Weeks. Why?
Somebody's planning to disperse
the toxin using the water supply.
The water supply won't help you
disperse an inhalant.
What?
Unless you have a microwave emitter
powerful enough. . .
. . .to vaporize all the water
in the mains.
A microwave emitter like the one
Wayne Enterprises just misplaced.
Misplaced?
Earle just fired me for asking
too many questions about it.
Go back to Wayne Enterprises now
and start making more of that antidote.
The police are gonna need as much
as they can get their hands on.
My security clearance
has been revoked.
That wouldn't stop a man like you,
now would it?
l suppose not.
-Bruce, there's somebody here you
must meet-Not now, Mrs. Delane.
-Bruce, there's somebody here you
must meet-Not now, Mrs. Delane.
Now, am l pronouncing this right. . .
. . .Mr. Ra's al Ghul?
You're not Ra's al Ghul.
l watched him die.
But is Ra's al Ghul immortal?
Are his methods supernatural?
Or cheap parlor tricks to conceal
your true identity, Ra's?
Surely a man who spends his nights
scrambling over the rooftops of Gotham. . .
. . .wouldn't begrudge me dual identities.
l saved your life.
l warned you about compassion, Bruce.
Your quarrel is with me.
You let these people go.
You are welcome to explain
the situation to them.
Everyone.
Everybody?
l. . . .
l want to thank you all for coming here
tonight and drinking all of my booze.
No, really.
There's a thing about being a Wayne. . .
. . .that you're never short of
a few freeloaders, like yourselves. . .
. . .to fill up your mansion with.
So here's to you people. Thank you.
-That's enough, Bruce.
-l'm not finished.
To all of you. . . .
All of you phonies,
all of you two-faced friends. . .
. . .you sycophantic suck-ups
who smile through your teeth at me. . .
. . .please, leave me in peace.
Please go.
Stop smiling, it's not a joke.
Please leave.
The party's over, get out.
The apple has fallen very far
from the tree, Mr. Wayne.
Amusing.
But pointless.
None of these people have long to live.
Your antics at the asylum
have forced my hand.
So Crane was working for you.
His toxin is derived from the organic
compound found in our blue flowers.
He was able to weaponize it.
He's not a member of
the League of Shadows?
Of course not. He thought our plan
was to hold the city to ransom.
But really, you are gonna release
Crane's poison on the entire city.
Then watch Gotham tear itself apart
through fear.
You're gonna destroy millions of lives.
Only a cynical man would call
what these people have ""lives,"" Wayne.
Crime. Despair.
This is not how man
was supposed to live.
The League of Shadows has been
a check against human corruption. . .
. . .for thousands of years.
We sacked Rome.
Loaded trade ships with plague rats.
Burned London to the ground.
Every time a civilization reaches
the pinnacle of its decadence. . .
. . .we return to restore the balance.
Gotham isn't beyond saving.
Give me more time.
There are good people here.
You're defending a city so corrupt. . .
. . .we have infiltrated
every level of its infrastructure.
Time to play.
When l found you in that jail,
you were lost.
But l believed in you.
l took away your fear,
and l showed you a path.
You were my greatest student.
lt should be you standing by my side,
saving the world.
l'll be standing where l belong.
Between you
and the people of Gotham.
No one can save Gotham.
When a forest grows too wild,
a purging fire is inevitable and natural.
Tomorrow the world will watch in horror
as its greatest city destroys itself.
The movement back to harmony
will be unstoppable this time.
-You attacked Gotham before?
-Of course.
Over the ages our weapons
have grown more sophisticated.
With Gotham we tried a new one.
Economics.
But we underestimated certain
of Gotham's citizens. . .
. . .such as your parents.
Gunned down by one of the very people
they were trying to help.
Create enough hunger
and everyone becomes a criminal.
Their deaths galvanized the city
into saving itself. . .
. . .and Gotham has limped on
ever since.
We are back to finish the job.
And this time no misguided idealists
will get in the way.
Like your father, you lack the courage
to do all that is necessary.
lf someone stands in the way
of true justice. . .
. . .you simply walk up behind them
and stab them in the heart.
-l am gonna stop you.
-You never did learn. . .
. . .to mind your surroundings.
Justice is balance.
You burned my house
and left me for dead.
Consider us even.
No one comes out. Make sure.
They're all gone?
-How many from maximum security?
-Every one of them.
Serial killers, rapists.
Get them to raise the bridges.
We don't want any getting off the island.
Yeah, l'll raise the bridges. . .
. . .when l get every available unit out here
to catch the homicidal maniacs. . .
-. . .that are running loose out there.
-Come on!
l hope you're not a member
of the fire brigade.
Master Wayne! Master Wayne!
What is the point of all those pushups
if you can't even lift a bloody log?
What have l done, Alfred?
Everything my family. . .
. . .my father, built. . . .
The Wayne legacy is more
than bricks and mortar, sir.
l wanted to save Gotham.
l failed.
Why do we fall, sir?
So that we can learn
to pick ourselves up.
You still haven't given up on me?
Never.
Harassment! l see harassment!
Maybe you'd like to see
some excessive force?
Madman with a gun.
With residents furious...
...at the unprecedented show of police
strength to round up the inmates....
We're about to raise these bridges.
Officer, l am a Gotham City
district attorney. Let me pass.
-Just shut up!
-Hey, Flass, cool it!
Hold these people back.
Hey, Gordon.
Somebody here to see you.
-What are you doing here?
-Our friend sent me with this.
lt counteracts Crane's toxin.
Hopefully you won't need it.
Not unless he's got some way
of getting that crap into the air.
All right, last one across.
People, they want this
bridge up in no more than three minutes!
Better get you off the island before
they raise the bridges. Patrolman!
l can't find my mom.
Hey!
What the hell are you doing?
Gentlemen. . .
. . .time to spread the word.
And the word is. . .
. . .panic.
Jesus. The pressure, it's spiking.
Right there.
That water main
is right under the Narrows.
lt's okay.
This is Commissioner Loeb.
Come on, somebody talk to me.
Come on!
Loeb, Loeb. This is Gordon.
What the hell is going on?
We need reinforcements.
TAC teams, SWAT, riot cops!
Gordon! All the city's riot police
are on the island with you!
Well, they're completely incapacitated!
lt's okay, it's okay.
No one's gonna hurt you.
Of course they are!
-Crane?
-No. Scarecrow.
Gordon. . .
. . .there's nobody left to send in.
So l'm on my own?
The Narrows is tearing itself to pieces.
This is just the beginning.
lf they hit the whole city with toxin
. . .there's nothing to stop Gotham
tearing itself apart from mass panic.
-How are they gonna do that?
-They 'll be using the train.
The monorail follows the water mains to
the central hub beneath Wayne Tower.
If they get their machine
into Wayne's station...
it'll cause a chain reaction that'll
vaporize the entire city's water supply.
Covering Gotham in this poison.
l'm gonna stop him from loading
that train, but l may need your help.
-What do you need?
-Can you drive stick?
There you are!
There is nothing to fear. . .
. . .but fear itself!
l am here to help you!
Batman will save us. He'll come.
-He'll come.
-Don't peek.
This is Gordon.
Prepare to lower the bridge.
l told you he'd come.
Wait.
You could die.
At least tell me your name.
lt's not who l am underneath. . .
. . .but what l do that defines me.
Bruce?
Well, well. You took my advice
about theatricality a bit literally.
-lt ends here.
-For you and the police, maybe.
My fight, however,
lies with the rest of Gotham.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
l have a city to destroy.
-l can't beat two of your pawns?
-As you wish.
GPS online.
In 100 yards.
Gentlemen.
Who the hell authorized this?
Distance to Wayne Tower, three miles.
The pressure's moving along the mains,
blowing all our pipes.
and if that pressure reaches us. . .
. . .the water supply right across
the whole city is gonna blow!
At the next intersection, turn right.
You will never learn.
Sorry.
-Familiar. Don't you have anything new?
-How about this?!
You have arrived at Wayne Tower.
Evacuate the building.
We're right on top of the
main hub and it's gonna blow.
Weapons system activated.
Nice ride.
Armed.
Don't be afraid, Bruce.
Come on. Come on.
You are just an ordinary man in a cape.
That's why you couldn't fight injustice,
that's why you can't stop this train.
Who said anything about stopping it?
Yes!
You never learned
to mind your surroundings!
You finally learned to do
what is necessary?
l won't kill you. . .
. . .but l don't have to save you.
The meeting is already started.
-What meeting?
Fox, l seem to remember firing you.
You did.
l got another job.
Yours.
On whose authority?
Batman may
have made the front page. . .
. . .but Bruce Wayne
got pushed to page eight.
Bruce Wayne.
What makes you think you can decide
who's running Wayne Enterprises?
-The fact that l'm the owner.
What are you talking about?
The company went public a week ago.
And l bought most of the shares.
Through various charitable
foundations and trusts and so forth.
Look, it's all a bit technical,
but the important thing. . .
...is that my company's future
is secure.
Right, Mr. Fox?
Right you are, Mr. Wayne.
Didn't you get the memo?
-l'm sorry l didn't tell you, Rachel.
-No. No, Bruce. . .
. . .l'm sorry.
The day that Chill died, l. . . .
l said terrible things.
But true things.
l was a coward with a gun. . .
. . .and justice is about more
than revenge, so thank you.
l never stopped thinking about you.
About us.
And when l heard you were back, l. . . .
l started to hope.
But then l found out about your mask.
Batman's just a symbol, Rachel.
No. This. . .
. . .is your mask.
Your real face is the one
that criminals now fear.
The man l loved. . .
. . .the man who vanished. . .
. . .he never came back at all.
But maybe he's still
out there somewhere.
Maybe someday,when
Gotham no longer needs Batman. . .
. . .l'll see him again.
-Proved me wrong, you know.
-About what?
Your father would be very proud of you.
Just like me.
What will you do?
Rebuild it.
Just the way it was, brick for brick.
Just the way it was, sir?
Yeah, why?
l thought this might be
a good opportunity for. . .
. . .improving the foundations.
-ln the southeast corner?
-Precisely, sir.
-Nice.
-l couldn't find any mob bosses.
Well, sergeant?
-lt's ""lieutenant"" now.
You really started something.
Bent cops running scared.
Hope on the streets.
-But?
-The Narrows is lost.
And we still haven't picked up Crane or
half the inmates of Arkham that he freed.
We will.
We can bring Gotham back.
-What about escalation?
-Escalation?
We start carrying semiautomatics,
they buy automatics.
We start wearing Kevlar,
they buy armor-piercing rounds.
-And?
-And you're wearing a mask. . .
. . .and jumping off rooftops.
Now, take this guy.
Armed robbery, double homicide.
Got a taste for the theatrical, like you.
Leaves a calling card.
l'll look into it.
l never said thank you.
And you'll never have to.
- Can l see?
- Finders keepers. And l found it.
ln my garden.
Finders keepers.
Bruce?
Bruce?
Mom! Mr. Alfred!
Did you have dream?
Nightmare.
Worse than this place?
They are going to fight you.
- Again?
- Until they kill you.
Can they kill me before breakfast?
You are in hell, little man.
And l am the devil.
You're not the devil.
You're practice.
Solitary.
- Why?
- For protection.
- l don't need protection.
- Protection for them.
Get in.
Are you so
desperate to fight criminals...
...that you lock yourself in
to take them on one at a time?
Actually, there were seven of them.
l counted six, Mr. Wayne.
How do you know my name?
The world is too small for someone
like Bruce Wayne to disappear...
...no matter how deep
he chooses to sink.
Who are you?
My name is merely Ducard,
but l speak for Ra's al Ghul...
...a man greatly feared
by the criminal underworld.
A man who can offer you a path.
What makes you think l need a path?
Someone like you
is only here by choice.
You have been exploring
the criminal fraternity...
...but whatever
your original intentions...
...you have become truly lost.
And what path can Ra's al Ghul offer?
The path of a man
who shares his hatred of evil...
...and wishes to serve true justice.
The path of the League of Shadows.
- You're vigilantes.
- No, no, no.
A vigilante is just a man lost in
the scramble for his own gratification.
He can be destroyed or locked up.
But if you make yourself more
than just a man...
...if you devote yourself to an ideal...
...and if they can't stop you...
...then you become
something else entirely.
Which is?
Legend, Mr. Wayne.
Tomorrow, you will be released.
lf you are bored of brawling with thieves
and want to achieve something...
...there is a rare blue flower
that grows on the eastern slopes.
Pick one of these flowers.
lf you can carry it
to the top of the mountain...
...you may find what you were
looking for in the first place.
And what was l looking for?
Only you can know that.
You turn back. You go back.
Ra's al Ghul?
Wait.
What are you seeking?
l seek...
...the means to fight injustice.
To turn fear...
...against those
who prey on the fearful.
To manipulate the fears in others...
...you must first master your own.
Are you ready to begin?
l can... l can barely stand.
Death does not wait
for you to be ready!
Death is not considerate or fair!
And make no mistake,
here you face death.
Tiger.
Jujitsu.
Panther.
You're skilled. But this is not a dance.
And you are afraid.
But not of me.
Tell us, Mr. Wayne...
...what do you fear?
Bruce?
lt's okay. lt's okay.
You'll be okay.
Will we be needing
an ambulance, Master Wayne?
No, l'll set the bone
and take him for an x-ray later.
Very good, sir.
l'm very sorry, sir. l've told...
Don't worry. lt's fine.
Took quite a fall,
didn't we, Master Bruce?
And why do we fall?
So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Just a little fall.
lt's just a small fracture.
The bats again?
You know why they attacked you,
don't you?
- They were afraid of you.
- Afraid of me?
All creatures feel fear.
Even the scary ones?
Especially the scary ones.
l got something to show you.
- You think your mother will like them?
- Yeah.
l think it's time to get up.
- Maybe.
No going back to bed.
Did you build this train, Dad?
Gotham's been good to our family,
but the city's been suffering.
People less fortunate than us
have been enduring very hard times.
So we built a new, cheap, public
transportation system to unite the city.
And at the center...
...Wayne Tower.
Is that where you work?
- No, l work at the hospital.
l leave the running of our company
to much better men.
- Better?
- Well...
...more interested men.
Can we go?
Please.
Okay. Let's go.
- What's wrong, Bruce?
- No, no. lt was me.
l just needed some fresh air.
A little bit of opera goes a long way.
Right, Bruce?
Come on. Let's go.
Wallets, jewelry. Come on, fast.
That's fine.
Fast.
Take it easy.
Take it easy.
Here you go.
lt's fine. lt's fine.
Now just take it and go.
- l said, jewelry.
Hey...
Thomas!
Bruce.
lt's okay.
Don't be afraid.
ls this your father's?
lt's okay.
Come here.
There you go.
lt's okay.
lt's okay.
Gordon.
Hey.
Good news.
We got him, son.
You're in excellent hands.
We'll be watching the empire.
When you grow up,
it'll be waiting for you.
l thought l might prepare a little supper.
- Very well.
- Alfred?
- Yes, Master Bruce?
- lt was my fault, Alfred.
- l made them leave the theater.
- No.
- lf l hadn't gotten scared...
- lt was nothing that you did.
lt was him, and him alone.
Do you understand?
l miss them, Alfred.
l miss them so much.
So do l, Master Bruce.
So do l.
And do you still feel
responsible for your parents' death?
My anger outweighs my guilt.
Come.
You have learned to bury
your guilt with anger.
l will teach you to confront it
and to face the truth.
You know how to fight six men.
We can teach you how to engage 600.
You know how to disappear.
We can teach you
to become truly invisible.
lnvisible?
The ninja understands that invisibility
is a matter of patience and agility.
Always mind your surroundings.
Ninjitsu employs explosive powders.
- As weapons?
- Or distractions.
Theatricality and deception
are powerful agents.
You must become more than just a man
in the mind of your opponent.
Who is he?
- He was a farmer.
Then he tried to take his neighbor's land
and became a murderer.
- Now he is a prisoner.
- What'll happen to him?
Justice. Crime cannot be tolerated.
Criminals thrive on the indulgence
of society's understanding.
Your parents' death was not your fault.
lt was your father's.
Anger does not change the fact
that your father failed to act.
- The man had a gun.
- Would that stop you?
l've had training.
The training is nothing!
Will is everything!
The will to act.
Yield.
You haven't beaten me.
You have sacrificed sure footing
for a killing stroke.
Rub your chest.
Your arms will take care of themselves.
You are stronger than your father.
You didn't know my father.
But l know the rage that drives you.
That impossible anger
strangling the grief...
...until the memory
of your loved one is just...
...poison in your veins.
And one day, you catch yourself wishing
the person you loved had never existed...
...so you'd be spared your pain.
l wasn't always here in the mountains.
Once, l had a wife.
My great love.
She was taken from me.
Like you, l was forced to learn
there are those without decency...
...who must be fought
without hesitation, without pity.
Your anger gives you great power.
But if you let it, it will destroy you...
...as it almost did me.
- What stopped it?
- Vengeance.
That's no help to me.
Why, Bruce?
Why could you not
avenge your parents?
Will you be heading back to Princeton
after the hearing, sir...
...or can l persuade you to stay on
for a day or two?
l'm not heading back at all.
You don't like it there?
- l like it fine.
They just don't feel the same way.
- l've prepared the master bedroom.
- No.
My room will be fine.
With all due respect, sir,
Wayne Manor is your house.
No, Alfred, it's my father's house.
- Your father is dead.
- This place is a mausoleum.
lf l have my way, l'll pull
the damn thing down brick by brick.
This house, Master Wayne, has sheltered
six generations of your family.
Why do you give a damn, Alfred?
lt's not your family.
l give a damn because a good man
once made me responsible...
...for what was most precious to him...
...in the whole world.
Miss Dawes has offered
to drive you to the hearing.
She probably hopes
to talk you out of going.
Should l just bury the past
out there with my parents, Alfred?
l wouldn't presume to tell you
what to do with your past, sir.
Just know that there are those of us who
care about what you do with your future.
Haven't given up on me yet?
Never.
Alfred still keeps the condensed milk
on the top shelf.
Hasn't he noticed
you're tall enough to reach now?
Old habits die hard, l guess.
- Never used to stop us anyway.
- No, it didn't.
How's your mom?
She misses this place.
So do l.
Yeah.
But it's nothing without the people
who made it what it was.
- Now there's only Alfred.
- And you.
- l'm not staying, Rachel.
- You're just back for the hearing.
Bruce, l don't suppose there's any way
to convince you not to come.
Someone at this proceeding...
...should stand for my parents.
We all loved your parents, Bruce.
- What Chill did is unforgivable.
- Then why is your boss letting him go?
ln prison, he shared a cell
with Carmine Falcone.
He learned things, and he will testify
in exchange for early parole.
Rachel, this man killed my parents.
l cannot let that pass.
And l need you
to understand that, please.
Okay.
The depression hit working
people, like Mr. Chill, hardest of all.
His crime was appalling, yes,
but it was motivated not by greed...
...but by desperation.
Given the 14 years served, as well as
his extraordinary level of cooperation...
...with one of this office's
most important investigations...
...we strongly endorse his petition
for early release.
Mr. Chill?
Your Honor...
...not a day goes by that l don't wish
l could take back what l did.
Sure, l was desperate,
like a lot of people back then...
...but that don't change what l did.
l gather there is a member
of the Wayne family here today.
Has he got anything to say?
Joe! Hey, Joe!
Falcone says hi.
Come on, Bruce.
We don't need to see this.
l do.
The DA couldn't understand
why Judge Faden insisted...
...on making the hearing public.
Falcone paid him off
to get Chill out in the open.
Maybe l should thank them.
- You don't mean that.
- What if l do, Rachel?
My parents deserved justice.
You're not talking about justice.
You're talking about revenge.
- Sometimes, they're the same.
- No, they're never the same.
Justice is about harmony. Revenge is
about you making yourself feel better.
- lt's why we have an impartial system.
- Your system is broken.
You care about justice?
Look beyond your own pain, Bruce.
This city is rotting.
They talk about the depression
as if it's history. lt's not.
Things are worse than ever here.
Falcone floods our streets
with crime and drugs...
...preying on the desperate,
creating new Joe Chills every day.
Falcone may not have killed
your parents, Bruce...
...but he's destroying everything
that they stood for.
You wanna thank him for that?
Here you go.
We all know where to find him.
As long as he keeps the bad people rich...
...and the good people scared,
no one'll touch him.
Good people like your parents, who'll
stand against injustice, they're gone.
What chance does Gotham have
when the good people do nothing?
- l'm not one of your good people, Rachel.
- What do you mean?
All these years, l wanted to kill him.
Now l can't.
Your father would be ashamed of you.
You're taller than you look
in the tabloids, Mr. Wayne.
No gun? l'm insulted.
- You could've just sent a thank-you note.
- l didn't come here to thank you.
l came to show you that
not everyone in Gotham's afraid of you.
Only those who know me, kid.
Look around you.
You'll see two councilmen...
...a union official,
couple off-duty cops...
...and a judge.
l wouldn't have a second's hesitation of
blowing your head off in front of them.
Now, that's power you can't buy.
That's the power of fear.
l'm not afraid of you.
Because you think you got
nothing to lose.
But you haven't thought it through.
You haven't thought about
your lady friend in the DA's office.
You haven't thought about
your old butler. Bang!
People from your world...
...have so much to lose.
Now, you think because your mommy
and your daddy got shot...
...you know about the ugly side of life,
but you don't.
You've never tasted desperate.
You're... You're Bruce Wayne,
the prince of Gotham.
You'd have to go 1000 miles to meet
someone who didn't know your name.
So don't come here with your anger,
trying to prove something to yourself.
This is a world you'll never understand.
And you always fear...
...what you don't understand.
All right.
Yeah, you got spirit, kid.
l'll give you that.
More than your old man anyway.
ln the joint, Chill told me about
the night he killed your parents.
He said your father begged for mercy.
Begged.
Like a dog.
Should've tipped better.
- For what?
- Your jacket.
Okay.
Hey, hey, hey. Let me have it.
lt's a nice coat.
Be careful who sees you with that.
- They're gonna come looking for me.
- Who?
Everyone.
lt's...
lt's a nice coat.
When you lived among
the criminals, did you start to pity them?
The first time I stole
so that I wouldn 't starve, yes.
I lost many assumptions about
the simple nature of right and wrong.
And when I traveled...
... I learned the fear before a crime...
... and the thrill of success.
But I never became one of them.
Fool. What do l care
what your name is? You're a criminal.
Tell that to the guy who owned these.
You've traveled the world
to understand the criminal mind...
...and conquer your fears.
But a criminal is not complicated.
And what you really fear
is inside yourself.
You fear your own power.
You fear your anger...
...the drive to do great
or terrible things.
Now you must journey inwards.
You are ready.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe in your fears.
Face them.
To conquer fear,
you must become fear.
You must bask in the fear
of other men.
And men fear most
what they cannot see.
You have to become a terrible thought.
A wraith.
You have to become an idea!
Feel terror cloud your senses.
Feel its power to distort.
To control.
And know that this power
can be yours.
Embrace your worst fear.
Become one with the darkness.
Focus.
Concentrate.
Master your senses.
You cannot leave any sign.
l haven't.
lmpressive.
We have purged your fear.
You are ready to lead these men.
You are ready to become a member
of the League of Shadows.
But first, you must demonstrate
your commitment to justice.
l'm no executioner.
Your compassion is
a weakness your enemies will not share.
That's why it's so important.
lt separates us from them.
You want to fight criminals.
This man is a murderer.
- This man should be tried.
By whom?
Corrupt bureaucrats?
Criminals mock society's laws.
You know this better than most.
You cannot lead these men...
...unless you are prepared to do
what is necessary to defeat evil.
And where would l be leading
these men?
Gotham.
As Gotham's favored son...
...you will be ideally placed
to strike at the heart of criminality.
- How?
- Gotham's time has come.
Like Constantinople or Rome before it...
...the city has become a breeding ground
for suffering and injustice.
lt is beyond saving
and must be allowed to die.
This is the most important function
of the League of Shadows.
lt is one we've performed for centuries.
Gotham...
...must be destroyed.
You can't believe in this.
Ra's al Ghul rescued us from
the darkest corners of our own hearts.
What he asks in return is the courage
to do what is necessary.
l will go back to Gotham
and l will fight men like this...
...but l will not become an executioner.
Bruce, please.
For your own sake,
there is no turning back.
- What are you doing?
- What's necessary, my friend.
l will tell him you saved his life.
Master Wayne,
you've been gone a long time.
- Yes, l have.
- You look very fashionable.
Apart from the mud.
Are you coming back to Gotham
for long, sir?
As long as it takes.
l want to show the people...
...their city doesn't belong
to the criminals and the corrupt.
ln the depression, your father nearly
bankrupted Wayne Enterprises...
...combating poverty.
He believed his example could inspire
the wealthy of Gotham to save their city.
Did it?
ln a way.
Their murder shocked the wealthy
and the powerful into action.
People need dramatic examples
to shake them out of apathy.
l can't do that as Bruce Wayne.
As a man...
...l'm flesh and blood,
l can be ignored, destroyed.
But as a symbol...
As a symbol, l can be incorruptible.
- l can be everlasting.
- What symbol?
Something elemental...
...something terrifying.
l assume that as you take on
the underworld...
...this symbol is a persona to protect
those you care about from reprisals?
You're thinking about Rachel?
Actually, sir, l was thinking of myself.
Have you told anyone l'm coming back?
l couldn't figure the legal ramifications
of bringing you back from the dead.
- Dead?
- You've been gone seven years.
You had me declared dead?
Actually, it was Mr. Earle.
He's taking the company public.
He wanted to liquidate
your majority shareholding.
Those shares are worth
quite a bit of money.
Well, it's a good thing
l left everything to you, then.
Quite so, sir.
And you can borrow the Rolls, if you like.
Just bring it back with a full tank.
ln my opinion, Mr. Zsaz is as much
a danger to himself as to others...
...and prison is probably not the best
environment for his rehabilitation.
- Dr. Crane.
- Miss Dawes.
You think a man who butchers people
for the mob doesn't belong in jail?
l would hardly have testified to that
otherwise, would l?
This is the third of Falcone's thugs
you've had declared insane...
...and moved into your asylum.
The work offered by organized crime
must have an attraction to the insane.
Or the corrupt.
Mr. Finch.
I think you should check
with Miss Dawes here...
...just what implications your office
has authorized her to make. lf any.
- What are you doing?
- What are you doing, Carl?
Looking out for you.
Falcone has half the city
bought and paid for.
- Drop it.
- How can you say that?
Because as much as l care about
getting Falcone, l care more about you.
That's sweet.
We've been through all that.
Blessed bat again, sir.
They nest somewhere in the grounds.
No more favors.
Someone is sniffing around.
Hey, l scratch your back,
you scratch mine, doc.
l'm bringing in the shipments.
We are paying you for that.
Maybe money isn't as interesting
to me as favors.
l am more than aware that you are
not intimidated by me, Mr. Falcone.
But you know who l'm working for,
and when he gets here...
He... He's coming to Gotham?
Yes, he is.
And when he gets here,
he's not going to wanna hear...
...that you've endangered our operation
just to get your thugs out of jail time.
- Who's bothering you?
- There's a girl at the DA's office.
- We'll buy her off.
- Not this one.
ldealist, huh?
Well, there's an answer to that too.
- l don't want to know.
- Yes, you do.
No, we are showing
very healthy growth in these sectors.
l don't think Thomas Wayne would have
viewed heavy-arms manufacture...
...as a suitable cornerstone
for our business.
Well, that's 20 years ago, Fredericks.
l think after 20 years
we can allow ourselves...
...to stop thinking about what
Thomas Wayne would have done.
Good morning, Mr. Earle's office.
Yes, he's confirmed for
the dinner tomorrow evening.
Good morning.
l'm here to see Mr. Earle.
Name?
Bruce Wayne.
Thomas would probably not
have taken the company public.
But that is what we,
as responsible managers, are going to do.
Jessica?
Jessica? Where are you?
Eye on the ball, and...
- Why is no one answering the phone?
lt's Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Earle.
l'm sure they'll call back.
Bruce? You're supposed to be dead.
l'm sorry to disappoint.
- l need you to take a look at this.
- Have you seen him yet?
- Who?
- Wayne.
lt's been all over the news.
He's back.
l'm sure you realize
l can't stop the big machine.
Too many wheels turning.
- We're going public.
- l understand.
And l'll be handsomely rewarded
for my shares.
l'm not looking to interfere.
- l am looking for a job.
- Oh?
l just want to get to know the company
that my family built.
Any ideas where you would start?
Applied Sciences caught my eye.
Fox's department.
l'll let him know you're coming.
You look like him. Your dad.
You're the only one left
of the Wayne family.
This is where you belong.
Welcome home.
Environmental procedures,
defense projects, consumer products.
All prototypes. None in production.
- On any level whatsoever.
- None?
What did they tell you this place was?
They didn't tell me anything.
Earle told me exactly what it was
when he sent me down here.
Dead end.
Place to keep me from causing
the board any more trouble.
Come on.
- You were on the board?
- When your father ran things.
- You knew my father?
- Oh, yeah.
Helped him build his train.
Here we are.
Kevlar utility harness.
Gas-powered, magnetic grapple gun.
The 350-pound test monofilament.
Wonderful project, your dad's train.
Routed it right into Wayne Tower,
along with the water and power utilities.
Kind of made Wayne Tower
the unofficial center of Gotham City.
Of course, Earle let it go to rot.
Here we are.
Nomex survival suit
for advanced infantry.
Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints.
- Tear-resistant?
- This sucker will stop a knife.
- Bulletproof?
- Anything but a straight shot.
- Why didn't they put it into production?
- Bean counters didn't think...
...a soldier's life was worth 300 grand.
So, what's your interest in it,
Mr. Wayne?
l want to borrow it.
For spelunking.
Spelunking?
Yeah, you know, cave diving?
You expecting to run into
much gunfire in these caves?
Look, l'd rather Mr. Earle
didn't know about me borrowing...
Mr. Wayne...
...the way l see it...
...all this stuff is yours anyway.
Okay. Give it a try.
Charming.
At least you'll have company.
This must be the lowest foundation
of the southeast wing.
In the civil war your great grandfather was
involved in the Underground Railroad
...secretly transporting freed slaves
to the North...
...and l suspect these caverns
came in handy.
Alfred! Come up here!
l can see everything all right
from down here, sir, thank you.
We order the main part
of this cowl from Singapore.
Via a dummy corporation.
lndeed. And then, quite separately...
...we place an order
to a Chinese company for these.
- Put it together ourselves.
- Precisely.
They'll have to be large orders,
to avoid suspicion.
- How large?
- Say 10,000.
- Well, at least we'll have spares.
- Yes.
Don't suppose you want a taste.
l just keep offering,
thinking maybe someday you'll get wise.
There's nothing wise
in what you do, Flass.
Well, Jimbo, you don't take the taste,
makes us guys nervous.
l'm no rat.
ln a town this bent,
who's there to rat to anyway?
Don't turn around.
You're a good cop.
One of the few.
What do you want?
Carmine Falcone brings
in shipments of drugs every week.
Nobody takes him down. Why?
He's paid up with the right people.
What will it take to bring him down?
Leverage on Judge Faden...
...and a DA brave enough
to prosecute.
Rachel Dawes.
Who are you?
Watch for my sign.
You're just one man?
Now we're two.
We?
Freeze!
What the hell was that?
Just some nut.
Well, what is it today?
More spelunking?
No. Today it's BASE-jumping.
BASE-jumping.
- That like parachuting?
- Kind of.
Do you have any lightweight fabrics?
You know, l think l have just the thing.
lt's called memory cloth.
Notice anything?
Regularly flexible...
...but put a current through it...
...molecules realign, it becomes rigid.
- What kind of shapes can you make?
Can be tailored to fit any structure
based on a rigid skeleton.
Too expensive for the Army?
l don't think they tried to market it
to the billionaire, BASE-jumping crowd.
- Look, Mr. Fox.
- Yes, sir?
lf you're uncomfortable...
Mr. Wayne, if you don't want to tell me
exactly what you're doing...
...when l'm asked, l don't have to lie.
But don't think of me as an idiot.
Fair enough.
What's that?
The Tumbler?
Oh, you wouldn't be interested in that.
She was built as a bridging vehicle.
During combat, two of these
would jump over a river, towing cables.
Over here on the throttle,
flip that open and throttle up.
This will boost you into a rampless jump...
Not now!
Not... Not now, sir.
We never could get
the damn bridge to work...
...but this baby works just fine.
So, what do you think?
Does it come in black?
l need you at the docks Thursday.
- Problems?
- l don't want any trouble...
...with the last shipment.
- Sure.
Word on the street is you got a beef
with somebody in the DA's office.
- ls that right?
- And that there's a fat prize...
...waiting for anybody willing
to do anything about it.
So, what's your point, Mr. Flass?
Have you seen the girl?
It's a cute little assistant D A.
Don 't you think that's a little too much
heat to bring down, maybe?
- Even for this town.
- Never underestimate Gotham City.
People get mugged coming home
from work every day of the week.
Sometimes...
Sometimes things just go bad.
lt's a problem with the graphite, sir.
The next 10,000
will be up to specifications.
- At least they gave us a discount.
- Quite.
ln the meantime, sir, may l suggest
you try to avoid landing on your head?
Why bats, Master Wayne?
Bats frighten me.
lt's time my enemies shared my dread.
What is this?
Continue.
Looks fine out there.
The bears go straight to the dealers.
Yeah, and the rabbits go
to the man in the Narrows.
- What's the difference?
- lgnorance is bliss, my friend.
Don't burden yourself
with the secrets of scary people.
Hey. Steiss.
Steiss?
What?
What the...?
l better check it.
There's a problem out here.
You better bail.
Where are you?!
Here.
Take a ride. Oh, shit.
What the hell are you?
l'm Batman.
Nice coat.
Thanks.
Hold it.
That's right, you better run.
Falcone sent them to kill you.
- Why?
- You rattled his cage.
- What's this?
- Leverage.
- For what?
- To get things moving.
Who are you?
Someone like you.
Someone who'll rattle the cages.
Ma'am? Everything okay?
Falcone's men?
- Does it matter?
We'll never tie him to it anyway.
l wouldn't be too sure of that.
What the hell is that?
Cut him down.
Unacceptable.
Now, l don't care if it's rival gangs,
Guardian Angels...
...or the goddamn Salvation Army...
...get them off the street
and off the front page.
They say it was just one guy.
Or a creature.
lt was some asshole in a costume.
- Yeah?
- This guy did deliver us...
...one of the city's biggest crime lords.
No one takes the law
into their own hands in my city.
Understand?
No way to bury it now.
There's still Judge Faden.
- l've got Faden covered.
- What about this bat they babble about?
Even if these guys will swear
to being thrashed by a giant bat...
...we've got Falcone at the scene.
Drugs, prints, cargo manifests.
This bat character gave us everything.
Okay. Let's do it.
- Bats are nocturnal.
Bats may be.
But even for billionaire playboys,
The price for leading a double life,
l fear.
Your theatrics made an impression.
Theatricality and deception...
...are powerful weapons, Alfred.
This is a good start.
lf those are to be the first
of many injuries to come...
...it would be wise
to find a suitable excuse.
Polo, for instance.
l'm not learning polo, Alfred.
Strange injuries,
a nonexistent social life.
These things beg the question...
...as to what exactly does Bruce Wayne
do with his time and his money.
What does someone like me do?
Drive sports cars, date movie stars.
Buy things that are not for sale.
Who knows, Master Wayne,
you start pretending to have fun...
...you might even have a little
by accident.
Sir.
- We have a situation.
- All right.
The Coast Guard picked up
one of our cargo ships last night...
...heavily damaged, all crew missing,
probably dead.
The ship was carrying
a prototype weapon.
It's a microwave emitter.
lt's designed for desert warfare, but it...
lt looks like somebody...
...turned it on.
lt uses focused microwaves to
vaporize the enemy's water supply.
The damage to the ship
was catastrophic.
The weapon itself is...
Missing?
Yeah.
Mr. Wayne.
Nice car.
You should see my other one.
He's done something
the police have never have.
You can't take the law
into your own hands.
Well, at least he's getting
something done.
Bruce, help me out here.
- Huh?
Well, a guy who dresses up
like a bat clearly has issues.
But he's put Falcone behind bars.
Now the cops wanna bring him in.
What does that tell you?
They're jealous.
Sir, the pool is for decoration...
...and your friends
do not have swimwear.
Well, they're European.
l'm going to have to ask you to leave.
- lt is not a question of money.
- Well, you see...
...l'm buying this hotel...
...and setting some new rules
about the pool area.
l think the Batman deserves a medal.
And a straitjacket to pin it on.
Thank you.
Bruce?
Rachel?
l'd heard you were back.
What are you doing?
Just swimming here.
Wow, it is good to see you.
You were gone a long time.
- l know. How are things?
- The same.
Job's getting worse.
Can't change the world on your own.
What choice do l have...
...when you're too busy swimming?
Rachel, all of...
All this...
lt's... lt's not me. lt's...
lnside, l am...
l am more.
Come on, Bruce. Come on.
Bruce, we have
some more hotels for you to buy.
Bruce...
...deep down you may still be
that same great kid you used to be.
But it's not who you are underneath...
...it's what you do that defines you.
Dr. Crane, thanks for coming.
Not at all. He cut his wrists?
Probably looking for the insanity plea.
But if anything should happen...
Of course, better safe than sorry.
Yeah, Dr. Crane, l can't take it anymore.
lt's all too much.
The walls are closing in.
Blah, blah, blah.
A couple of days of this food,
it'll be true.
- What do you want?
- l wanna know...
...how you're gonna convince me
to keep my mouth shut.
About what?
You don't know anything.
l know you don't want the cops to take
a closer look at the drugs they seized.
And l know about your experiments
with the inmates of your nut house.
See, l don't go into business with a guy
without finding out his dirty secrets.
And those goons you used.
l own the muscle in this town.
Now, l've been bringing
your stuff in for months. . .
. . .so whatever he's planning,
it's big, and l want in.
Well, l already know what he'll say.
That we should kill you.
Even he can't get me in here.
Not in my town.
Would you like to see my mask?
l use it in my experiments.
Now, l'm probably not very frightening
to a guy like you.
But these crazies, they can't stand it.
So when did the nut
take over the nut house?
They scream and they cry. . .
. . .much as you're doing now.
Well, he's not faking. Not that one.
l'll talk to the judge
and see if l can get him moved. . .
. . .to the secure wing at Arkham.
l can't treat him here.
Storm's coming.
The scum is getting jumpy
because you stood up to Falcone.
lt's a start. Your partner
was at the docks with Falcone.
Well, he moonlights
as a low-level enforcer.
They were splitting the shipment in two.
Only half went to the dealers.
Why? What about the other half?
-Flass knows.
-He won't talk.
He'll talk to me.
Commissioner Loeb set up
a massive task force to catch you.
-He thinks you're dangerous.
-What do you think?
l think you're trying to help.
But l've been wrong before.
Come on, l ain't got all night.
Flass, l have kids to feed.
What, they don't like falafel?
Where were the other drugs going?
l never knew. l don't know.
-l swear to God.
-Swear to me!
l don't-- l don't know.
l never knew. Never.
They went to some guy for a couple days
before they went to the dealers.
Why?
There was something--
Something else in the drugs. . .
-. . .something hidden.
-What?
l never went to the drop-off point.
lt was in the Narrows.
-Cops only go there in force.
-Do l look like a cop?
No--!
This is the one l'm talking about.
-What's your problem with it?
-lt shouldn't exist.
This ship left Singapore with
l'm guessing there's something
l'm not supposed to find in there.
Listen, counselor, we don't wanna
know what's in Mr. Falcone's crate.
Things are working a little
differently now. Open it up.
What the hell is this?
lt's you, isn't it?
Everybody's been talking about you.
Get in here!
The other kids won't believe me.
Get rid of all traces.
Better torch the whole place.
All right.
Having trouble?
Take a seat. Have a drink.
You look like a man
who takes himself too seriously.
Do you want my opinion?
You need to lighten up.
Alfred, help me.
Blood. Take. Take poison. Blood poison.
Poisonous. Poisonous.
Bruce...
... why do we fall?
-How long was l out?
-Two days.
lt's your birthday.
Many happy returns.
l've felt these effects before,
but this was so much more potent.
lt was some kind of hallucinogen,
weaponized, in aerosol form.
You have been hanging out
in the wrong clubs, Mr. Wayne.
l called Mr. Fox when your condition
worsened after the first day.
l analyzed your blood. . .
. . .isolating the receptor compounds
and the protein-based catalyst.
Am l meant to understand any of that?
Not at all. l just wanted you to know
how hard it was.
-Bottom line, l synthesized an antidote.
-Could you make more?
You planning on gassing yourself
again, Mr. Wayne?
Well, you know how it is.
You're out at night, looking for kicks. . .
. . .someone's passing around
the weaponized hallucinogens. . . .
l'll bring what l have.
The antidote should inoculate you for now.
Alfred, always a pleasure.
Lucius.
-You sure you don't want to come in?
-l have to get back.
-l just wanted to leave this.
-Thank you.
Rachel?
Looks like someone's been
burning the candle at both ends.
-Must've been quite an occasion.
-lt is my birthday.
l know. l'm sorry l can't come tonight.
l was just dropping off your present.
-You've got better plans?
-My boss has been missing for 2 days. . .
. . .which means l should
probably start by looking. . .
-. . .at the bottom of the river.
-Rachel.
Excuse me.
Rachel Dawes.
Who authorized that? Get Crane down
there now. Don't take no for an answer.
Call Dr. Lehmann, tell him we need our
own assessment to the judge by morning.
-What's wrong?
-lt's Falcone.
Dr. Crane moved him to Arkham Asylum
on suicide watch.
You're going to Arkham now?
lt's in the Narrows, Rachel.
You enjoy your party, Bruce.
-Some of us have work to do.
-You be careful.
Happy birthday.
But, Master Wayne,
the guests will be arriving.
Keep them happy until l arrive.
Tell them that joke you know.
Having fun?
Bill? Now, what's a big shot like you
doing in a place like this?
l need some information.
The Wayne Enterprise 47-B, 1 -ME.
lt's a microwave emitter. lt was designed
to vaporize an enemy's water supply.
Rumor was they tested dispersing
water-based chemicals into the air. . .
. . .but isn't that illegal?
l want all the information
on the development of this project. . .
. . .all data, files, backup disks,
on my desk right away.
Did you lose one?
l'm merging your department
with Archives.
And l am firing you.
Didn't you get the memo?
Scarecrow.
Scarecrow.
Miss Dawes, this is most irregular.
l have nothing to add
to the report l filed with the judge.
-l have questions about your report.
-Such as?
lsn't it convenient for a 52-year-old man
who has no history of mental illness. . .
. . .to have a psychotic breakdown
just when he's about to be indicted?
As you can see for yourself, there is
nothing convenient about his symptoms.
-Scarecrow.
-What's ""scarecrow""?
Patients suffering delusional episodes
often focus their paranoia. . .
. . .on an external tormentor. . .
. . .usually one conforming
to Jungian archetypes.
ln this case, a scarecrow.
-He's drugged?
-Psychopharmacology is my primary field.
I'm a strong advocate.
Outside, he was a giant.
ln here, only the mind
can grant you power.
You enjoy the reversal.
l respect the mind's power
over the body.
lt's why l do what l do.
l do what l do to keep thugs like Falcone
behind bars, not in therapy.
l want my own psychiatric consultant
to have full access to Falcone. . .
. . .including blood work.
Find out what exactly you put him on.
-First thing tomorrow, then.
-Tonight.
l've already paged Dr. Lehmann
at County General.
As you wish.
This way, please.
There's something
l think you should see.
This is where we make the medicine.
Perhaps you should have some,
clear your head.
Who knows you're here?
Who knows?
He's here.
Who?
The Batman.
What do we do?
-What anyone does. . .
. . .when a prowler comes around.
-Call the police.
-You want the cops here?
At this point, they can't stop us.
But the Batman
has a talent for disruption.
Force him outside,
the police will take him down. Go.
What about her?
She hasn't got long.
l gave her a concentrated dose.
The mind can only take so much.
Now go.
The things they say about him.
Can he really fly?
l heard he can disappear.
Well, we'll find out.
Won't we?
Taste of your own medicine, doctor?
What have you been doing here?
Who are you working for?
Ra's-- Ra's al Ghul.
Ra's al Ghul is dead.
Who are you working for?
Crane.
Dr. Crane isn't here right now.
But if you'd like to make
an appointment. . . .
Batman,
put down your weapons and surrender.
You're surrounded.
-What are you waiting for?
-Backup.
-Backup?
-The Batman's in there.
SWAT's on the way.
But if you wanna go in now. . .
. . .l'll be right behind you, sir.
SWAT's on the way.
-Hey.
-Hey.
What's happened to her?
Crane poisoned her with a psychotropic
hallucinogen, a panic-inducing toxin.
-Let me get her down to the medics.
-They can't help her, but l can.
Get her downstairs.
Meet me in the alley.
Crane's been smuggling his toxin
hidden in Falcone's drugs. . .
. . .and they're dumping it
into the water supply.
-What was he planning?
-l don't know.
Was he working for Falcone?
He mentioned someone else,
someone worse.
I need to get her the antidote
before the damage becomes permanent.
-How long does she have?
-Not long.
What is that?
-Backup.
-What the--?
Excuse me.
How is she?
-She's fading. We gotta go.
l'll get my car.
l brought mine.
Yours?
l've gotta get me one of those.
He is in a vehicle.
Make and color?
lt's a black. . .
. . .tank.
Stay calm.
You've been poisoned.
l'm on him.
Breathe slowly.
Hold on.
-What are you doing?
-Shortcut.
Air One to ground, block that ramp.
He's got no way off that roof.
Turn off your engine.
Step away from the car.
-Trust me.
Weapons system activated.
Who is this guy?
Where's he going?
He's on the roof.
What street is he taking?
-He's not on a street.
He's flying on rooftops.
At least tell me what it looks like.
Never mind.
Got him.
Coming right up on his butt.
We're tracking suspect
vehicle heading west on I- 1 7.
-Air One to ground.
-l lost him.
We've lost visual. Exit 9 is blocked.
We'll loop back to check
the frontage road.
Stealth mode activated.
Stay with me.
What--? There he is.
Just hold on.
Rachel!
They get any of this into the mains?
Yeah.
Notify the water company.
There's gotta be a way to isolate it.
No. They put it all in.
They must've been at this for weeks.
-Gotham's entire water supply is laced.
-Why haven't we felt the effects?
Must be a compound that
has to be absorbed through the lungs.
How do you feel?
Where are we?
-Why did you bring me here?
-lf l hadn't, your mind would now be lost.
-You were poisoned.
-lt was--
-lt was Dr. Crane.
-Rest. Gordon has Crane.
ls Sergeant Gordon your friend?
l don't have the luxury of friends.
l'm gonna give you a sedative.
You'll wake up back at home.
When you do, get these to Gordon,
and Gordon alone. Trust no one.
-What are they?
-The antidote.
One for Gordon to inoculate himself,
the other for mass production.
Mass production?
Crane was just a pawn.
We need to be ready.
When you told me your grand plan
for saving Gotham. . .
the only thing that stopped me
from calling the men in white coats. . .
. . .was when you said
it wasn't about thrill-seeking.
-lt's not.
-What would you call that?
-Damn good television.
-lt's a miracle no one was killed.
l didn't have time to observe
the rules of the road, Alfred.
You're getting lost inside
this monster of yours.
l'm using this monster to help
other people, just like my father did.
For Thomas Wayne, helping others. . .
. . .wasn't about proving anything
to anyone, including himself.
lt's Rachel, Alfred. She was dying.
She's downstairs, sedated.
l need you to take her home.
Well, we both care for Rachel, but what
you're doing has to be beyond that.
lt can't be personal,
or you're just a vigilante.
-ls Fox still here?
-Yes, sir.
We need to send these people away.
Those are Bruce Wayne's guests.
You have a name to maintain.
l don't care about my name.
lt's not just your name, sir.
lt's your father's name.
And it's all that's left of him.
Don't destroy it.
-Mr. Earle.
-Happy birthday, Bruce.
Thank you.
How did the stock offering go?
Prices soared.
Who was buying?
All kinds of funds and brokerages.
lt's a bit technical.
The key thing is. . .
. . .our company's future is secure.
Great.
A little the worse for wear, l'm afraid.
What was the plan, Crane?
How were you gonna get
your toxin into the air?
Scarecrow. Scarecrow.
Who were you working for, Crane?
Oh, it's too late.
You can't stop it now.
Here.
Happy birthday, Bruce.
-Thank you. Thanks.
And thank you for that item.
You're welcome.
-l know you'll put it to good use.
-l already have.
How long would it take
to manufacture on a large scale?
Weeks. Why?
Somebody's planning to disperse
the toxin using the water supply.
The water supply won't help you
disperse an inhalant.
What?
Unless you have a microwave emitter
powerful enough. . .
. . .to vaporize all the water
in the mains.
A microwave emitter like the one
Wayne Enterprises just misplaced.
Misplaced?
Earle just fired me for asking
too many questions about it.
Go back to Wayne Enterprises now
and start making more of that antidote.
The police are gonna need as much
as they can get their hands on.
My security clearance
has been revoked.
That wouldn't stop a man like you,
now would it?
l suppose not.
-Bruce, there's somebody here you
must meet-Not now, Mrs. Delane.
-Bruce, there's somebody here you
must meet-Not now, Mrs. Delane.
Now, am l pronouncing this right. . .
. . .Mr. Ra's al Ghul?
You're not Ra's al Ghul.
l watched him die.
But is Ra's al Ghul immortal?
Are his methods supernatural?
Or cheap parlor tricks to conceal
your true identity, Ra's?
Surely a man who spends his nights
scrambling over the rooftops of Gotham. . .
. . .wouldn't begrudge me dual identities.
l saved your life.
l warned you about compassion, Bruce.
Your quarrel is with me.
You let these people go.
You are welcome to explain
the situation to them.
Everyone.
Everybody?
l. . . .
l want to thank you all for coming here
tonight and drinking all of my booze.
No, really.
There's a thing about being a Wayne. . .
. . .that you're never short of
a few freeloaders, like yourselves. . .
. . .to fill up your mansion with.
So here's to you people. Thank you.
-That's enough, Bruce.
-l'm not finished.
To all of you. . . .
All of you phonies,
all of you two-faced friends. . .
. . .you sycophantic suck-ups
who smile through your teeth at me. . .
. . .please, leave me in peace.
Please go.
Stop smiling, it's not a joke.
Please leave.
The party's over, get out.
The apple has fallen very far
from the tree, Mr. Wayne.
Amusing.
But pointless.
None of these people have long to live.
Your antics at the asylum
have forced my hand.
So Crane was working for you.
His toxin is derived from the organic
compound found in our blue flowers.
He was able to weaponize it.
He's not a member of
the League of Shadows?
Of course not. He thought our plan
was to hold the city to ransom.
But really, you are gonna release
Crane's poison on the entire city.
Then watch Gotham tear itself apart
through fear.
You're gonna destroy millions of lives.
Only a cynical man would call
what these people have ""lives,"" Wayne.
Crime. Despair.
This is not how man
was supposed to live.
The League of Shadows has been
a check against human corruption. . .
. . .for thousands of years.
We sacked Rome.
Loaded trade ships with plague rats.
Burned London to the ground.
Every time a civilization reaches
the pinnacle of its decadence. . .
. . .we return to restore the balance.
Gotham isn't beyond saving.
Give me more time.
There are good people here.
You're defending a city so corrupt. . .
. . .we have infiltrated
every level of its infrastructure.
Time to play.
When l found you in that jail,
you were lost.
But l believed in you.
l took away your fear,
and l showed you a path.
You were my greatest student.
lt should be you standing by my side,
saving the world.
l'll be standing where l belong.
Between you
and the people of Gotham.
No one can save Gotham.
When a forest grows too wild,
a purging fire is inevitable and natural.
Tomorrow the world will watch in horror
as its greatest city destroys itself.
The movement back to harmony
will be unstoppable this time.
-You attacked Gotham before?
-Of course.
Over the ages our weapons
have grown more sophisticated.
With Gotham we tried a new one.
Economics.
But we underestimated certain
of Gotham's citizens. . .
. . .such as your parents.
Gunned down by one of the very people
they were trying to help.
Create enough hunger
and everyone becomes a criminal.
Their deaths galvanized the city
into saving itself. . .
. . .and Gotham has limped on
ever since.
We are back to finish the job.
And this time no misguided idealists
will get in the way.
Like your father, you lack the courage
to do all that is necessary.
lf someone stands in the way
of true justice. . .
. . .you simply walk up behind them
and stab them in the heart.
-l am gonna stop you.
-You never did learn. . .
. . .to mind your surroundings.
Justice is balance.
You burned my house
and left me for dead.
Consider us even.
No one comes out. Make sure.
They're all gone?
-How many from maximum security?
-Every one of them.
Serial killers, rapists.
Get them to raise the bridges.
We don't want any getting off the island.
Yeah, l'll raise the bridges. . .
. . .when l get every available unit out here
to catch the homicidal maniacs. . .
-. . .that are running loose out there.
-Come on!
l hope you're not a member
of the fire brigade.
Master Wayne! Master Wayne!
What is the point of all those pushups
if you can't even lift a bloody log?
What have l done, Alfred?
Everything my family. . .
. . .my father, built. . . .
The Wayne legacy is more
than bricks and mortar, sir.
l wanted to save Gotham.
l failed.
Why do we fall, sir?
So that we can learn
to pick ourselves up.
You still haven't given up on me?
Never.
Harassment! l see harassment!
Maybe you'd like to see
some excessive force?
Madman with a gun.
With residents furious...
...at the unprecedented show of police
strength to round up the inmates....
We're about to raise these bridges.
Officer, l am a Gotham City
district attorney. Let me pass.
-Just shut up!
-Hey, Flass, cool it!
Hold these people back.
Hey, Gordon.
Somebody here to see you.
-What are you doing here?
-Our friend sent me with this.
lt counteracts Crane's toxin.
Hopefully you won't need it.
Not unless he's got some way
of getting that crap into the air.
All right, last one across.
People, they want this
bridge up in no more than three minutes!
Better get you off the island before
they raise the bridges. Patrolman!
l can't find my mom.
Hey!
What the hell are you doing?
Gentlemen. . .
. . .time to spread the word.
And the word is. . .
. . .panic.
Jesus. The pressure, it's spiking.
Right there.
That water main
is right under the Narrows.
lt's okay.
This is Commissioner Loeb.
Come on, somebody talk to me.
Come on!
Loeb, Loeb. This is Gordon.
What the hell is going on?
We need reinforcements.
TAC teams, SWAT, riot cops!
Gordon! All the city's riot police
are on the island with you!
Well, they're completely incapacitated!
lt's okay, it's okay.
No one's gonna hurt you.
Of course they are!
-Crane?
-No. Scarecrow.
Gordon. . .
. . .there's nobody left to send in.
So l'm on my own?
The Narrows is tearing itself to pieces.
This is just the beginning.
lf they hit the whole city with toxin
. . .there's nothing to stop Gotham
tearing itself apart from mass panic.
-How are they gonna do that?
-They 'll be using the train.
The monorail follows the water mains to
the central hub beneath Wayne Tower.
If they get their machine
into Wayne's station...
it'll cause a chain reaction that'll
vaporize the entire city's water supply.
Covering Gotham in this poison.
l'm gonna stop him from loading
that train, but l may need your help.
-What do you need?
-Can you drive stick?
There you are!
There is nothing to fear. . .
. . .but fear itself!
l am here to help you!
Batman will save us. He'll come.
-He'll come.
-Don't peek.
This is Gordon.
Prepare to lower the bridge.
l told you he'd come.
Wait.
You could die.
At least tell me your name.
lt's not who l am underneath. . .
. . .but what l do that defines me.
Bruce?
Well, well. You took my advice
about theatricality a bit literally.
-lt ends here.
-For you and the police, maybe.
My fight, however,
lies with the rest of Gotham.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
l have a city to destroy.
-l can't beat two of your pawns?
-As you wish.
GPS online.
In 100 yards.
Gentlemen.
Who the hell authorized this?
Distance to Wayne Tower, three miles.
The pressure's moving along the mains,
blowing all our pipes.
and if that pressure reaches us. . .
. . .the water supply right across
the whole city is gonna blow!
At the next intersection, turn right.
You will never learn.
Sorry.
-Familiar. Don't you have anything new?
-How about this?!
You have arrived at Wayne Tower.
Evacuate the building.
We're right on top of the
main hub and it's gonna blow.
Weapons system activated.
Nice ride.
Armed.
Don't be afraid, Bruce.
Come on. Come on.
You are just an ordinary man in a cape.
That's why you couldn't fight injustice,
that's why you can't stop this train.
Who said anything about stopping it?
Yes!
You never learned
to mind your surroundings!
You finally learned to do
what is necessary?
l won't kill you. . .
. . .but l don't have to save you.
The meeting is already started.
-What meeting?
Fox, l seem to remember firing you.
You did.
l got another job.
Yours.
On whose authority?
Batman may
have made the front page. . .
. . .but Bruce Wayne
got pushed to page eight.
Bruce Wayne.
What makes you think you can decide
who's running Wayne Enterprises?
-The fact that l'm the owner.
What are you talking about?
The company went public a week ago.
And l bought most of the shares.
Through various charitable
foundations and trusts and so forth.
Look, it's all a bit technical,
but the important thing. . .
...is that my company's future
is secure.
Right, Mr. Fox?
Right you are, Mr. Wayne.
Didn't you get the memo?
-l'm sorry l didn't tell you, Rachel.
-No. No, Bruce. . .
. . .l'm sorry.
The day that Chill died, l. . . .
l said terrible things.
But true things.
l was a coward with a gun. . .
. . .and justice is about more
than revenge, so thank you.
l never stopped thinking about you.
About us.
And when l heard you were back, l. . . .
l started to hope.
But then l found out about your mask.
Batman's just a symbol, Rachel.
No. This. . .
. . .is your mask.
Your real face is the one
that criminals now fear.
The man l loved. . .
. . .the man who vanished. . .
. . .he never came back at all.
But maybe he's still
out there somewhere.
Maybe someday,when
Gotham no longer needs Batman. . .
. . .l'll see him again.
-Proved me wrong, you know.
-About what?
Your father would be very proud of you.
Just like me.
What will you do?
Rebuild it.
Just the way it was, brick for brick.
Just the way it was, sir?
Yeah, why?
l thought this might be
a good opportunity for. . .
. . .improving the foundations.
-ln the southeast corner?
-Precisely, sir.
-Nice.
-l couldn't find any mob bosses.
Well, sergeant?
-lt's ""lieutenant"" now.
You really started something.
Bent cops running scared.
Hope on the streets.
-But?
-The Narrows is lost.
And we still haven't picked up Crane or
half the inmates of Arkham that he freed.
We will.
We can bring Gotham back.
-What about escalation?
-Escalation?
We start carrying semiautomatics,
they buy automatics.
We start wearing Kevlar,
they buy armor-piercing rounds.
-And?
-And you're wearing a mask. . .
. . .and jumping off rooftops.
Now, take this guy.
Armed robbery, double homicide.
Got a taste for the theatrical, like you.
Leaves a calling card.
l'll look into it.
l never said thank you.
And you'll never have to.